Happy to report that I just returned from my business trip and the mugs have been drying out nicely. No cracks so far (knock on bamboo) - I couldn't stop thinking of them while I was away! I'm off to pick up some clay and will hopefully get to sculpt a new mug next tuesday.

MauiTiki - well spotted! There are indeed a bunch of holes in the base to a) vent the chamber when firing, and b) let the sound come out!

TikiKIrby - the beads are actually made of the same clay as the mug - I rolled out a zillion of them and let them get bone dry before sculpting the mugs. I put a handful of beads into a small paper towel pouch before sealing them into the mugs. The paper towel acts a release to keep the beads from sticking to the mug wall.

Just threw the switch on the kiln for the final firing of the Bone Rattle mugs. Nearly forgot to put the bone stir-sticks in the kiln! Thank the kiln gods that I had them on the clay table by the studio door. I was able to pop them into the warm kiln before things got too toasty. Fingers are now firmly crossed with the hopes that both mugs survive their cone 6 journey into the inferno. Crazy thing is, I'm heading off to a big Haleakala crater hike for the next 4 days, so I wont know till friday if the mugs made it! I can guarantee that the Bone Rattles will be occupying my thoughts at least 75% of the time I'm on the mountain.